Sunday October 13 Pentecost 21
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Psalm 111
God’s work of justice and restoration of the people are marvellous and we are in awe of God.
Psalm 112
People who are loyal to the God of justice and generosity are never afraid and are always generous.
Psalm 113
Praise God who has made creation and who lifts the poor up out of the dust like the sun shining on everyone.
Micah 6.1-8 What’s Micah about?
God calls the people into an imaginary law court where God will present the case against the people as if the mountains were judges. The assumption is that the natural world, or as we might say, ‘the cosmos’, is the location of justice. God presents the case against the people—they have been disloyal to justice in spite of how generous God has been to them. The people respond that they will no longer trust in religion as a way of avoidance but will follow God and will act in justice.
Matthew 15.21-28 What’s Matthew about?
Jesus travels through non-Jewish territory and encounters a pagan woman who demands he heal her daughter. He responds as Jews normally would, treating her as a dog. However, she claims her dignity in arguing and actually winning the argument — and unimaginable insult to Jesus. But Jesus is impressed with her trust and heals her child—the kingdom has already come to those who are complete outsiders.
This week’s collect:
Almighty God,
in our baptism you adopted us for your own.
Quicken, we pray, your Spirit within us,
that we, being renewed both in body and mind,
may worship you in sincerity and truth;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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